Bridge



'2 Sheets -Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

1?. H. BAINBRIDGE.

DAM.

No. 525,834. Patented Sept. 11, 1894..

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. H. BAIINBRIDGE. DAM.

No; 525,834. Patented Sept. 11. 1894.

fizyezzor Norms FEYERS ca, moroumu. WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES ATENTOFFICE.

FRANCIS H. BAINBRIDGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,834, datedSeptember 11, 1894.

Application filed March 2'7, 1894- Serial No. 505,259. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. BAIN- BRIDGE, of Chicago, Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Dams, &c.,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a dam of wrought iron orsteel for closing a valley or canon for the purpose of impounding water.As is well known, in various sections of the United States rain fallsduring but a short season of the year, and in such localities water isretained in large reservoirs and utilized during the remaining portionof the year for irrigating and other purposes. Such reservoirs may beformed by closing up a valley or canon by the construction of dams,which are generally of great height and involve great expense.

It is the object of my invention to form a dam cheap and simple inconstruction, and of suflicient strength to resist the pressure of thewater impounded. Furthermore, my construction is such that it can becompleted in much shorter time than a dam of any other knownconstruction; and my invention consists in the features and details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview of my construction, taken on line 1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 2, a plan viewof the girder bearings; Fig. 3, a detail view of the steps supportingthe ends of the girders; Fig. 4, a plan of the valley or canon with thegirders arched toward the impounded water; Fig. 5, a modified form ofconstruction showing the girders curved from the impounded water; Fig.6, a modified form of construction, and Figs. 7 and 8, detailed Views ofthe girders and plates forming the water face.

For the sake of brevity and clearness in description, I will proceed todescribe my invention as constructed in a valley or cafion having rocksides. I first take a number of girders or I-beams, A, of the propercurvature and length, the lower one, A, of which is embedded in a trenchin the bottom of the valley in any suitable manner-for instance,embedded in the concrete, A These girders are preferably placedhorizontally one above the other at suitable distances apart, the lowerones being arranged closer together on account of the greater pressureexerted there. As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the ends of thegirders are supported in steps, B, B, cut out of the solid rock. Theends of each girder are preferably provided with enlarged bearings, as,for instance, the ends of the girders are secured to I-beams, b, I),resting upon the step, as shown in Fig. 3, although any other. form ofconstruction may be used for the enlarged bearings.

Arranged upon the face of the girders are plates, C, of iron or steel,and made preferably in sections of the proper dimensions. These platesare riveted or otherwise secured to the girders. As shown in Fig. 7,these plates are joined together preferably at the I-beams in order tosecure a Water-tight joint. A single series of plates is arranged fromtop to bottom of the dam, but any desired series may be added in orderto reinforce the first series, as, for instance, in Fig. 1. Ihave shownseries D and E, the plates being tripled near the bottom of the dam onaccount of the increased pressure of water there. In Fig. 7 I have shownstraight plates forming the water face, and in Fig. 8 is shown amodified form of construction, wherein curved or arched plates, F,presenting their convex surface to the impounded water are used. This issometimes a desirable construction, for the reason that it permits thegirders to be arranged at a greater distance apart-say two or more timesthan when the straight plates are used. It is obvious, however, that theconcave form of plates may be used instead of the convex in this form ofconstruction. The girders used in any case may either be rolled, asshown in Fig. 7, or built up, as shown in Fig. 8. The curvature of thearch may be of any character or degree, and I therefore do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself to the precise forms shown in thedrawings. The radii of the curve to which the several girders may bebent may be constant, making the water face a portion of the surface ofa cylinder, or the radii may decrease in length toward the lower part ofthe construction, making a surface which approximates to the surface ofa portion of a cone. Upon the upper girder is formed a suitable walkway,G, with a suitable hand rail, g, ar- 5 ranged adjacent thereto, wherebyfacilities for making examination or repairs are provided.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of construction, wherein theconcave surface of I o the dam is presented to the impounded water.

In such forms, the ends of the iron construction, H, or inverted arch,are anchored into the sides of the cafion or valley, as at h, h.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a form of construction which may be desirable incase the span between the sides of the canon or valley is too long for asingle arch. In such case I prefer to build a suitable number of masonrypiers, J, J, and arrange between them any of Y220 the forms of ironconstruction heretofore described. As shown in the drawings, the convexform of construction is employed, but it will be obvious that theconcave form shown in Fig. 5 may be used.

2 5 By the use of my invention, I am enabled to construct an efficient,substantial and comparatively cheap dam, and one which can be completedin a much shorter time than any other, which is an importantconsideration in the construction of dams.

Although I have described more or less precise forms and details ofconstruction, I do notintend to limit myself thereto, as Icontemplatechanges in form, porportions of parts,

and the substitution of equivalents, as circumstances may suggest orrender expedient.

I claim- 1. In a dam, the combination of girders or I-beams arrangedsubstantially one above another, and secured at their ends, and metallicplates upon the girders and forming the water face, substantially asdescribed.

- 2. In a dam, the combination of girders or I-beams arrangedhorizontally substantially one above another, and metallic platessecured upon the girders and forming the water face, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a dam arranged in a valley or cafion, the combinationv of girdersor I-beams ar-. ranged horizontally one above another-and- 5o resting insteps in the sides of the valley or canon, and metallic plates securedupon the girders and forming the water face, substantially as described.

4:. In a dam located in a valley or caiion, the combination of girdersor I-beams arranged substantially one above another at suitabledistances apart, steps in the sides of the valley or cafion to receivethe ends of the girders, of which girders those nearer the bottom beingarranged closer together than those near the top, and metallic platessecured to the girders and forming the Water face, substantially asdescribed.

FRANCIS H. BAINBRIDGE. Witnesses:

SAMUEL E. HIBBEN, THOMAS F. SHERIDAN.

